The parents of St Ives artist Lucie Bray, whose body was found on a beach near Padstow earlier this month, have paid tribute to their daughter.

Barrie and Heather Bray said Lucie was a “warmhearted, gentle and considerate” daughter, whose smile “could light up a room.”

The Brays, who tragically lost Lucie’s elder sister Vania in a car accident when she was just 18, said Lucie, 39, was “ever kind, loving and considerate.”

In a tribute sent to The Cornishman, the Brays said: “We would like to thank all our family and many friends for their love and support at this very difficult time.

“Lucie was a warmhearted, gentle and considerate soul whose smile could light up a room – ever kind, loving and considerate, a person of high spiritual awareness.”

A service was held to celebrate Lucie’s life at the The Friends Meeting House in Marazion this morning.

Her parents said: “Lucie was, and indeed still is, very spiritual. She recently started to attend Marazion Quaker Meeting as she had done as a child, she thought the experience was very special, and sometimes was moved to stand and minister.”

Lucie was well known in St Ives for her voluntary work on the St Ives Neighbourhood Plan and her support of the St Ives Jumbo Association.

But she was best known as an artist, and her work reflected her love of the power and beauty of the Cornish sea, sky and coastline.

Her parents said: “Lucie came from a family of professional painters - Barrie Bray, Heather Bray and Lucie’s older sister Vania, who passed away in 1987 aged 18 years, following a car accident. She had just won a place at Falmouth College of Art to start a foundation course in fine art.

“Vania’s work was both beautiful and ethereal, while the particular quality of Lucie’s work was her clever use of colour, the vigour and the vibrant but minimal mark making. Both she and her work will be sorely missed by everyone who knew her.”

A service for Lucie took place at The Friends Meeting House and was followed by a burial at the Penwith Woodlands Burial Place, Rose Farm, Chyenhal, near Buryas Bridge.